Effects of strain and age on hepatic gene expression profiles in murine models of HFE-associated hereditary hemochromatosis

Hereditary hemochromatosis is an iron overload disorder most commonly caused by a defect in the HFE gene. While the genetic defect is highly prevalent, the majority of individuals do not develop clinically significant iron overload, suggesting the importance of genetic modifiers. Murine hfe knockout models have demonstrated that strain background has a strong effect on the severity of iron loading. We noted that hepatic iron loading in hfe−/− mice occurs primarily over the first postnatal weeks (loading phase) followed by a timeframe of relatively static iron concentrations (plateau phase). We thus evaluated the effects of background strain and of age on hepatic gene expression in Hfe knockout mice (hfe−/−). Hepatic gene expression profiles were examined using cDNA microarrays in 4- and 8-week-old hfe−/− and wild-type mice on two different genetic backgrounds, C57BL/6J (C57) and AKR/J (AKR). Genes differentially regulated in all hfe−/− mice groups, compared with wild-type mice, including those involved in cell survival, stress and damage responses and lipid metabolism. AKR strain-specific changes in lipid metabolism genes and C57 strain-specific changes in cell adhesion and extracellular matrix protein genes were detected in hfe−/− mice. Mouse strain and age are each significantly associated with hepatic gene expression profiles in hfe−/− mice. These affects may underlie or reflect differences in iron loading in these mice.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s12263-014-0443-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Transglutaminase 3 expression in C57BL／6J mouse embryo epidermis and the correlation with its differentiation

Epidermal-type transglutaminase 3 (TGM3) is involved in the cross-linking of structural proteins to form the cornified envelope in the epidermis. In the present study, we detected the expression of TGM3 in the mouse embryo using RT-PCR.TGM3 mRNA is weakly presented from E11.5 to E14.5 and increases significantly from E15.5 to birth. Then we determined the spatial and temporal expression pattern of TGM3 in the skin and other organs by in situ hybridization. We found a deprivation of TGM3 in skin at E11.5, while a rich supply in periderm cells and a weak expression in basal cells from E12.5 to E14.5. From the period of E15.5 to E16.5, after keratinization in the epidermis, TGM3 was expressed in the granular and cornified layers. The electron microscopic observation of the C57BL/6J mouse limb bud skin development provided several morphological evidences for the epidermal differentiation. The above findings suggest that the expression of TGM3 plays a important role in the epidermis differentiation in embryogenesis.     

Expression of hepatic pyruvate carboxylase mRNA in C57BL/6J Ahb/b and congenic Ahd/d mice exposed to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin

The activity and level of hepatic pyruvate carboxylase (PC) has been reported to be altered by 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) treatment in mice. If alteration in PC level/activity by TCDD influences TCDD toxicity, one would expect to observe an early post-exposure reduction in PC mRNA. To examine the molecular events responsible for the alteration of PC activity in livers of TCDD-treated mice, we designed a synthetic DNA oligonucleotide probe specific for PC mRNA. Northern blot analysis on RNA extracts from hepatic tissue at various times and doses post-TCDD exposure were done. Furthermore, to elucidate the role of the dioxin Ah locus on alterations of PC activity by TCDD, we utilized C57BL/6J (Ah^b/b, Ah high TCDD affinity) mice and a congenic (Ah^d/d, Ah low TCDD affinity) mouse strain. At 8 days post TCDD treatment, a dose-dependent reduction of hepatic PC mRNA levels was observed in Ah^b/b mice. The response, reduction in PC mRNA levels, in the Ah^b/b strain was about 10-fold greater than that of comparably exposed congenic Ah^d/d mice. These results indicate that previously reported reductions in PC activity/level by TCDD treatment of mice is a consequence of a reduction in PC mRNA levels and that the effect requires a competent Ah receptor. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Galectin-3 stimulates preadipocyte proliferation and is up-regulated in growing adipose tissue

Objective: Some cytokines and mediators of inflammation can alter adiposity through their effects on adipocyte number. To probe the molecular basis of obesity, this study determined whether galectin‐3 was present in adipose tissue and investigated its effects on fat cell number. Research Methods and Procedures: In the first study, obesity‐prone C57BL/6J mice were fed with high‐fat (58%) diet. Epididymal fat pads were collected at Day 0, Day 60, and Day 120 after the start of high‐fat feeding. Results: Levels of adipocyte galectin‐3 protein, determined using Western blot analysis, increased as the mice became obese. Galectin‐3 mRNA and protein were then detected in human adipose tissue, primarily in the preadipocyte fraction. It was found that recombinant human galectin‐3 stimulated proliferation of primary cultured preadipocytes as well as DNA synthesis through lectin‐carbohydrate interaction. Discussion: Galectin‐3, which has been known to play a versatile role especially in immune cells, might play a role also in adipose tissue and be associated with the pathophysiology of obesity.     

高脂饮食加低剂量链脲霉素建立小鼠2型糖尿病模型

目的高脂饮食加低剂量链脲霉素（Streptozotocin,STZ）建立小鼠2型糖尿病模型。方法5周的雄性C57BL/6J小鼠,随机分为正常饲料组、正常饲料加STZ组、高脂饲料组和高脂饲料加STZ组。相应饲料喂养5周后,按照100 mg/Kg的剂量腹腔注射STZ,然后继续喂养4周。在第5周和第9周末测定小鼠的体重、收缩压、血糖、血胰岛素、血甘油三脂和胆固醇水平。结果STZ注射前各组小鼠的体重、血压、血糖、血胰岛素、血脂和血甘油三脂无明显差异（P〉0.05）。STZ注射后4周时,高脂饲料加STZ组小鼠的体重、血糖、血胰岛素、血压和血脂水平明显升高（P〈0.05）;而其他三组的这些指标无明显改变或仅部分升高。结论高脂饮食加低剂量链脲霉素可建立小鼠2型糖尿病模型,该模型具有人2型糖尿病的主要表型特征和相似的发病过程。     

Efficacy of azelaic acid on hepatic key enzymes of carbohydrate metabolism in high fat diet induced type 2 diabetic mice

Azelaic acid (AzA), a C9 linear α,ω-dicarboxylic acid, is found in whole grains namely wheat, rye, barley, oat seeds and sorghum. The study was performed to investigate whether AzA exerts beneficial effect on hepatic key enzymes of carbohydrate metabolism in high fat diet (HFD) induced type 2 diabetic C57BL/6J mice. C57BL/6J mice were fed high fat diet for 10 weeks and subjected to intragastric administration of various doses (20 mg, 40 mg and 80 mg/kg BW) of AzA daily for the subsequent 5 weeks. Rosiglitazone (RSG) was used as reference drug. Body weight, food intake, plasma glucose, plasma insulin, blood haemoglobin (Hb), blood glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c), liver glycolytic enzyme (hexokinase), hepatic shunt enzyme (glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase), gluconeogenic enzymes(glucose-6-phosphatase and fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase), liver glycogen, plasma and liver triglycerides were examined in mice fed with normal standard diet (NC), high fat diet (HFD), HFD with AzA (HFD + AzA) and HFD with rosiglitazone (HFD + RSG). Among the three doses, 80 mg/kg BW of AzA was able to positively regulate plasma glucose, insulin, blood HbA1c and haemoglobin levels by significantly increasing the activity of hexokinase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and significantly decreasing the activity of glucose-6-phosphatase and fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase thereby increasing the glycogen content in the liver. From this study, we put forward that AzA could significantly restore the levels of plasma glucose, insulin, HbA1c, Hb, liver glycogen and carbohydrate metabolic key enzymes to near normal in diabetic mice and hence, AzA may be useful as a biomaterial in the development of therapeutic agents against high fat diet induced T2DM.     

Sample preparation project for the subcellular proteome of mouse liver

Organelle proteome has become one of the most important fields of proteomics, and the subcellular fractionation with high purity and yield has always been a challenge for cell biologists and also for the Human Liver Proteome Project (HLPP). The liver of a C57BL/6J mouse was chosen as the model to find the optimum method for subcellular preparation. The method we selected could obtain the multiple fractions including plasma membrane, mitochondria, nucleus, ER, and cytosol from a single homogenate. With the same procedure, it is for the first time that the preparation method of frozen homogenized livers was compared with that of the fresh livers and frozen livers. We systematically evaluated the purity, efficiency, and integrity by protein yield, immunoblotting, and transmission electron microscopy. Taken together, the method of multiple fractions from a single tissue is effective enough for subcellular fractionation of mouse liver. We give a selective sample preparation method for frozen homogenized livers, for rare clinical samples, which cannot easily be used for subcellular separation immediately. But the frozen livers are not recommended for organelles isolation. This result is especially useful for sample preparation of human liver for subcellular fractionation of HLPP.     

Comparative gene expression analysis of the engulfment and cell motility (ELMO) protein family in the mouse brain

Engulfment and cell motility (ELMO) proteins bind to Dock180, a guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) of the Rac family, and regulate GEF activity. The resultant ELMO/Dock180/Rac module regulates cytoskeletal reorganization responsible for the engulfment of apoptotic cells, cell migration, and neurite extension. The expression and function of Elmo family proteins in the nervous system, however, are not yet fully understood. Here, we characterize the comparative gene expression profiles of three Elmo family members (Elmo1, Elmo2, and Elmo3) in the brain of C57BL/6J mice, a widely used inbred strain, together with reeler mutant mice to understand gene expression in normal laminated brain areas compared with abnormal areas. Although all three Elmo genes showed widespread mRNA expression over various mouse tissues tested, Elmo1 and Elmo2 were the major types expressed in the brain, and three Elmo genes were up-regulated between the first postnatal week (infant stage) and the third postnatal week (juvenile, weaning stage). In addition, the mRNAs of Elmo genes showed distinct distribution patterns in various brain areas and cell-types; such as neurons including inhibitory interneurons as well as some non-neuronal cells. In the cerebral cortex, the three Elmo genes were widely expressed over many cortical regions, but the predominant areas of Elmo1 and Elmo2 expression tended to be distributed unevenly in the deep (a lower part of the VI) and superficial (II/III) layers, respectively, which also changed depending on the cortical areas and postnatal stages. In the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus, Elmo2 was expressed in dentate granule cells more in the mature stage rather than the immature-differentiating stage. In the thalamus, Elmo1 but not the other members was highly expressed in many nuclei. In the medial habenula, Elmo2 and Elmo3 were expressed at intermediate levels. In the cerebellar cortex, Elmo1 and Elmo2 were expressed in differentiating-mature granule cells and mature granule cells, respectively. In the Purkinje cell layer, Elmo1 and Elmo2 were expressed in Purkinje cells and Bergmann glia, respectively. Disturbed cellular distributions and laminar structures caused by the reeler mutation did not severely change expression in these cell types despite the disturbed cellular distributions and laminar structures, including those of the cerebrum, hippocampus, and cerebellum. Taken together, these results suggested that these three Elmo family members share their functional roles in various brain regions during prenatal-postnatal development.     

Purification,molecular cloning,and functional expression of inducible liver acylcarnitine hydrolase in C57BL/6 mouse,belonging to the carboxylesterase multigene family

To identify the peroxisome proliferator-inducible acylcarnitine hydrolase in C57BL/6 mice, acylcarnitine hydrolase was purified to homogeneity using column chromatography. The purified enzyme, named ACH M1, had a subunit molecular weight of 60kDa. ACH M1 could hydrolyze classical carboxylesterase (CES) substrates as well as palmitoyl-dl-carnitine and these activities were inhibited by anti-rat CES antibodies. The peptide fragments of ACH M1 were identical to those of the deduced amino acid sequence of mouse CES2 isozyme. These findings suggested that ACH M1 was a member of the CES2 family. The mouse CES2 cDNA, designated mCES2, was cloned from mouse liver. The recombinant mCES2 expressing in Sf9 cells showed high level of catalytic activity toward acylcarnitines. Furthermore, the biological characteristics of the expressed protein were identical with those of ACH M1 in many cases, suggesting that mCES2 encodes mouse liver ACH M1.     

从C57BL/6J小鼠胚胎中分离ES细胞系(英文)

ＥＳ细胞（ＥｍｂｒｙｏｎｉｃＳｔｅｍＣｅｌｓ）是来源于小鼠早期胚胎的细胞系,它可以在体外大量培养而不失去其发育的多潜能性。ＥＳ细胞不仅可以用来制作转基因动物,而且能够作为载体进行基因打靶等多种研究。目前,国际上常用的胚胎干细胞系都是来源于１２９小鼠的胚胎。因而,有必要探讨用其它品系小鼠建立ＥＳ系。１９９１年,Ｌｅｄｅｒｍａｎｎ等人首次报道从Ｃ５７ＢＬ／６Ｊ小鼠胚胎中建成了ＥＳ细胞系,但是没有对建立的细胞系进行特性分析。国内柴桂萱等人虽然做了特性分析,但是他们所建细胞系的细胞直径较大,生长速度较慢,不同于常见的ＥＳ细胞系。我们从Ｃ５７ＢＬ／６Ｊ品系小鼠胚胎中共分离了四个ＥＳ细胞系,分别命名为ＣＥ１、ＣＥ２、ＣＥ３、ＣＥ４（Ｆｉｇ．１ａ＆ｂ）。这四个细胞系核型正常率均达到７０％以上。我们检查了ＣＥ２细胞的分化能力,当将ＣＥ２细胞注入同基因型小鼠的皮下后,获得的畸胎瘤（Ｆｉｇ．３）组织切片检查的结果表明：该细胞能够分化成多种组织（Ｆｉｇ．２）。我们也研究了ＥＳ细胞的嵌合能力,用ＩＣＲ小鼠胚胎作为受体胚胎,采用囊胚显微注射法构建嵌合鼠。在幸存的幼鼠中我们获得了来源于ＣＥ２细胞的嵌合鼠（Ｔａｂｌｅ１,Ｆｉｇ．４）。综     

Inhibition of Sporulation of Genus Bacillus by Various Microbial Protease Inhibitors

Several analogs modifying the 6-methoxy-2-methoxymethyl-3-(3,4-methyienedioxyphenyl)-1,4-benzodioxan-7-yl group of haedoxans were synthesized and their insecticidal activity was examined. 2-(2,6-Dimethoxyphenoxy)-1-hydroxy-6-(2-methoxy-5-methoxyethoxyphenyl)-3,7-dioxabicyclo-[3.3.0]octane, which lacked the 3-(3,4-methylenedioxybenzyloxy) moiety of the benzodioxanyl group, was not insecticidal, but caused prolonged paralysis of the housefly. A compound replacing the 6-(2-methoxy-5-methoxyethoxyphenyl) by 6-(5-butoxy-2-methoxyphenyl) exhibited insecticidal activity comparable to one thirty-thousandth of that of haedosan A. It became evident that the 1,4-benzodioxane framework charging the 3-(3,4-methylenedioxy)phenyl group is important for the insecticidal activity of haedoxans.     

基于体视显微镜观察两种鼠氟斑牙的形态变化

目的:通过对染氟大鼠和小鼠氟斑牙的观察,进一步确定氟斑牙作为慢性氟中毒的诊断指标的重要性。方法:通过不同浓度和不同时间的氟染毒,利用数码体视显微镜观察Wistar大鼠和C57BL/6J小鼠氟斑牙的形态变化。将Wistar大鼠随机分为4组,每组8只,共计32只,分笼饲养,C57BL/6J小鼠4组,每组12只,共计48只,分8笼饲养。对照组:蒸馏水组,实验组三组:氟化钠分别为50 mg/L组,100 mg/L组和150 mg/L组。在染氟至6个月时,应用在体视显微镜观察大鼠和小鼠牙齿的动态改变。结果:染氟组Wistar大鼠和C57BL/6J小鼠牙齿均出现规则的斑纹、白垩状、延迟断裂、缺损等症状。随着染氟时间的延长,C57BL/6J小鼠氟斑牙的损伤程度大于Wistar大鼠。在慢性氟中毒大鼠和小鼠的牙齿变化中发现,大鼠和小鼠的牙齿变化程度与种属有着密切的关系。结论:通过利用体视显微镜对Wistar大鼠和C57BL/6J小鼠染氟6个月进行氟斑牙的观察分析,为慢性氟中毒鼠模型提供氟斑牙的形态学的详实依据。并且,可根据研究需要适宜选择氟斑牙的动物模型。     

博来霉素诱导G57BL/6与ICR小鼠肺间质纤维化模型的比较

目的探讨C57BL/6与ICR小鼠在博来霉素(BLM)致肺纤维化过程中的种属差异。方法 8周龄雌性C57BL/6小鼠19只,ICR小鼠16只,分别经尾静脉一次性注射BLM150mg/kg,观察每组小鼠体重、生存率及肺组织病理改变。结果①C57BL/6与ICR小鼠最低体重分别发生在静脉注射处置后的7d和5d,最低体重分别为注射前的65.46%和73.21%,两组间无显著的统计学差异。②C57BL/6与ICR小鼠的生存率分别为36.84%和56.25%,两组间存在显著的统计学差异。③C57BL/6小鼠BLM注射后28d,在胸膜下及血管周围形成广泛、稳定的间质纤维化病理改变,而ICR小鼠肺组织未见明显纤维化形成。C57BL/6小鼠肺纤维化病理评分明显高于ICR小鼠(P0.001)。结论 BLM诱导的肺纤维化作用在C57BL/6与ICR小鼠间存在着明显的种属差异。C57BL/6小鼠较ICR小鼠更适于复制博来霉素诱导的肺纤维化动物模型。     

A locus for circadian period of locomotor activity on mouse proximal chromosome 3

Lengthened circadian period of locomotor activity is a characteristic of a congenic strain of mice carrying a nonsense mutation in exon 5 of the carbonic anhydrase II gene, car2. The null mutation in car2 is located on a DBA/2J inbred strain insert on proximal chromosome 3, on an otherwise C57BL/6J genomic background. Since reducing the size of the congenic region would narrow the possible candidate genes for period, two recombinant congenic strains (R1 and R2) were developed from the original congenic strain. These new congenic strains were assessed for period, genetic composition, and the presence of immunoreactive carbonic anhydrase II. R1 mice were homozygous DBA/2J for the distal portion of the original DBA/2J insert, while R2 mice were homozygous DBA/2J for the proximal portion. R1 mice had a significantly lengthened period compared to R2 mice and wild-type C57BL/6J mice, indicating that the gene(s) affecting period is likely found within the reduced DBA/2J insert (~1 cM) in the R1 mice. The R1 mice also possessed the null mutation in car2. This study confirmed the presence of a gene(s) affecting period on proximal chromosome 3 and significantly reduced the size of the congenic region and the number of candidate genes. Future studies will focus on identifying the gene influencing period.     

Cytochrome P450-dependent metabolism of l-deprenyl in monkey (Cercopithecus aethiops) and C57BL/6 mouse brain microsomal preparations

The aim of the present investigation was to characterize the cytochrome P450 (CYP)-dependent metabolism of l-deprenyl by brain microsomal preparations obtained from two different animal models that have been extensively used in Parkinson's disease studies, namely monkey (Cercopithecus aethiops) and C57BL/6 mouse. In monkey brain microsomal fractions, the apparent Km values for methamphetamine formation from l-deprenyl were 67.8 +/- 1.0 and 72.0 +/- 1.6 microm, in the cortex and striatum, respectively. Similarly, for nordeprenyl formation from l-deprenyl, Km values in cortex and striatum were 21.3 +/- 3.2 and 27.3 +/- 4.0 microm, respectively. Both metabolic pathways appear to be more efficient in the cortex than in the striatum as the Vmax for microsomal preparation was lower in the striatum for the formation of both metabolites. The formation rate of l-methamphetamine was up to one order of magnitude greater than that of nordeprenyl. Inhibition analysis of both pathways in monkey brain suggested that l-methamphetamine formation is catalysed by CYP2A and CYP3A, whereas only CYP3A appears to be involved in nordeprenyl formation. With microsomal preparations from whole brain of C57BL/6 mice, the only l-deprenyl metabolite that could be detected was methamphetamine and the Km and Vmax values were similar to those determined in monkey cortex (53.6 +/- 2.9 microm and 33.9 +/- 0.4 pmol/min/mg protein, respectively). 4-Methylpyrazole selectively inhibited methamphetamine formation, suggesting the involvement of CYP2E1. In conclusion, the present study indicates that l-deprenyl is effectively metabolised by CYP-dependent oxidases in the brain, giving rise mainly to the formation of methamphetamine, which has been suggested to play a role in the pharmacological effects of the parent drug. The results also demonstrate that there are differences between species in CYP-dependent metabolism of l-deprenyl.     

从构建的小鼠gDNA文库中筛选Sry基因

从Ｃ５７ＢＬ／６Ｊ公鼠脾脏组织抽提大分子ＤＮＡ,进行ＭｂｏＩ部分酶切,低熔点琼脂糖凝胶分离、回收酶切后所需长度的ＤＮＡ片段并与λＧＥＭ○Ｒ－１１ＢａｍＨＩ臂进行连接和λ噬菌体体外包装反应,构建成Ｃ５７公鼠基因组λ噬菌体文库,对实验中遇到的技术问题进行了探讨,比较了两种浓度连接产物的包装效率,并成功地从该文库中筛选到含Ｓｒｙ基因的单克隆     

Improved generation of C57BL/6J mouse embryonic stem cells in a defined serum-free media

C57BL/6 is a well-characterized mouse strain that is used extensively for immunological and neurological research. The establishment of C57BL/6 ES cell lines has facilitated the study of gene-altered mice in a pure genetic background-however, relatively few such lines exist. Using a defined media supplement, knockout serum replacement (KSR) with knockout DMEM (KSR-KDMEM), we find that we can readily establish ES cell lines from blastocysts of C57BL/6J mice. Six lines were established, all of which were karyotypically normal and could be maintained in the undifferentiated state on mouse embryonic fibroblast (MEF) feeders. One line was further tested and found to be karyotypically stable and germline competent, both prior to manipulation and after gene targeting. For this cell line, efficiencies of cell cloning and chimera generation were greater when maintained in KSR-KDMEM. Our work suggests that the use of defined serum-free media may facilitate the generation of ES cells from inbred mouse strains.